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About Us

Together we’re better.

We have achieved our success not solely through our own expertise and abilities, but also by actively engaging with and supporting the communities to which we belong.

“Together we’re better” means being attentive and expanding the cooperative spirit between our members, our team, and the connections we build and grow within every city we’re located in.

Our History

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  • Our Beginning

    Our Beginning

    On January 23, 1946, the Osoyoos Credit Union opened its doors for the first time. Our first charter members wanted to help farmers, small businesses and working people when they were denied mortgages and loans at a traditional bank. We’re proud of our history and our values, which still hold true today.

  • The 1950s

    Embracing Modernization: The 50’s

    OCU set up its first chequing service for members in 1953. That same year, OCU purchased its first piece of office equipment – a small adding machine which cost $449. A couple years later in 1955, OCU moved out of the post office and had its own building for the first time. The first modern-looking building in Osoyoos, it was purpose built for the credit union. In December of that year, the Osoyoos Credit Union welcomed its 500th member.

  • Responding to Shifting Industry

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    Responding to Shifting Industry

    In 1971 OCU celebrated its 25th anniversary. It came at the cusp of a turning point in history – the 1970s and 1980s would see the local economy shift, as trains stopped coming into town and the tracks were removed. The viticulture and tourism industry started to grow dramatically. Over the years OCU responded to the shifting industry and demographics, supporting families, farmers and businesses, playing an essential role in the growth and evolution of the area.

  • Our 50th anniversary!

    Our 50th anniversary!

  • Expanding our reach

    Expanding our reach

    In October of 2019 we became a part of another vibrant community: Rock Creek. Not only was this great news for us for opening a new location, but it was also well received by the citizens of Rock Creek as it had been 90 years since the town last had financial services of their own. 

  • 75 Years in the community!

    75 Years in the community!

What we value

OCU is the heart of co-operative finance, creating enduring legacies and fulfilling
dreams through accountability, professionalism, independence, and community spirit.

Community

We care about taking an active role in supporting local causes and programs however we can. This not only means volunteering but also actively looking for new ways to help others of all walks of life in the community.

Accountability

We’re committed to helping our members succeed in their financial goals—whether they’ve just signed on or have been a member for many years. When we come to work, we take pride in being as prepared and accurate as possible to provide useful, actionable advice to our members.

Professionalism

The financial world can be complicated for a lot of people, but we care about staying on top of it ourselves and making it understandable to others. We take into account that our members are our clients, but they are also people with their own lives, goals, and challenges.

Independence

Coming to work, we care about taking responsibility to sus out answers to our questions or challenges. We invest in our members and build relationships, support our team and help them hone their skills, and find opportunities to be environmentally sustainable whenever possible.

Higher pay. Better living.

Osoyoos Credit Union is proud to announce that we are certified as a Living Wage Employer! A Living Wage Employer is an organization that provides a “living wage rate” to its employees that reflects the “true costs of living in a community and that parents can earn what they need to support their families.”

As Living Wage Employers, we not only meet the requirements of providing a “living wage,” but we also strive to do business with other social enterprises wherever possible to help reduce poverty in our communities.

Join our professional community

Board of Directors

online banking & financial services Osoyoos BC | Board Of Directors | Diane Thomas

Diana Thomas

Chair

Althea Raum

Vice-Chair

Zachary Poturica

Director

Leo Callarec

Director

JF Launier

Director

Mike Campol

Director

Alan Bajkov

Director

Joanne Muirhead

Director

Romeo Girardi

Director

OCU Staff

Wendy Balogh

Maria Dias

Laura Brownjohn

Herman Gill

Roxanne Davyduke

Richard Alexander

Greg Sol

Liz White

Elaine Romaniuk

Trina Melanson

Aman Sandhu

Russell Comerford

Patt Costa

Sandra Hachey

Ada Bulhoes

Louise Toth

Caroline McCallum

Nathan Linders

Joy Weiss

Sheila Moore

Carolyn Huttema

Laurel Wagner

Anu Baliyan

Liam Bissonette

Harneet Kang

Our Locations